'No Smoking Day' at fair July 23
Putnam County Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Coalition, Putnam County VOICE and the Putnam County Fair Board are asking for fair goers to observe a smoke-free day on Wednesday, July 23.
Those attending the fair are asked not to smoke, or to smoke only in their cars or outside the gates while at the fair on smoke-free day. The smoke-free day coincides with Kids' Day on the Midway at the fair.
In observance, the Putnam County Tobacco Coalition and VOICE members, many of them also long-time 4-H members, are hosting a booth in the industrial tent all week where they will have a variety of games, activities and prizes.
The tent's activities will be designed to illustrate the consequences of tobacco use to children, youths and adults.
Fairgoers may also sign up for the statewide QUIT 2 WIN Contest. The contest will offer smokers wishing to quit cash prizes totalling $5,000 including a top prize of $2,500.
According to Putnam County Tobacco Prevention and Cessation, tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death and disease in the United States. The coalition also says that there has never been a better time for Putnam County residents to quit smoking.
The Putnam County Hospital offers free stop smoking/tobacco use classes each Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. and Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. in the hospital's first floor classroom. Class participants are offered free nicotine replacement patches courtesy of the Putnam County Health Department.
For more information about Putnam County Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Coalition or VOICE visit www.voice.tv, www.whitelies.tv, call 765-655-2697 or e-mail pctobacco@gmail.com.